Bay Area voters react to Biden-Ryan showdown

Staff report

Posted:
10/11/2012 09:52:17 PM MDT

Updated:
10/12/2012 01:00:33 AM MDT

Click photo to enlarge

John Lund, 19, expresses an opinion about the upcoming presidential election at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif. Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012. Lund is part of a group of debate students at the school. (Patrick Tehan/Staff)

The Bay Area News Group has been talking to voters at places like the Rossmoor retirement community in Walnut Creek, the cheering section of San Jose's Crossfire soccer team and Santa Clara University's debate class.

After Thursday night's showdown between Vice President Joe Biden and vice presidential GOP hopeful Paul Ryan in Kentucky, we got back to some of those voters to ask them how they thought the candidates did.

"This has made me much more inclined to vote for Romney. Ryan really handled himself extremely well, and I just hope that he runs for president in 2016. His answers were concise, and he has the ideas and principles to get things done. Biden showed himself as an angry guy, very unprofessional, especially on foreign policy where Ryan's performance was truly outstanding."

Barney Rubin, 88, retired chemical engineer who lives in the Rossmoor retirement community in Walnut Creek.

Who won?: Biden

Before the debate: Obama-Biden

After the debate: Obama-Biden

Advertisement

Takeaway: "Obviously both men were very intense. It was very different from the first debate in the sense that people were disappointed with Obama's withdrawn over-politeness. In my view, it will counter the boost Romney got from the first debate. Ryan really didn't have a clue how to answer questions about Afghanistan."

Tom Fryer, 75, a retired educator who also lives in Rossmoor.

Who won? "I think it was a draw."

Before the debate: Romney-Ryan

After the debate: Romney-Ryan

Takeaway: "I thought Ryan acquitted himself very well, and I thought Biden is a very experienced guy. But I did think Biden was unconscionably impolite, abrupt and abrasive."

Pam Romero, 49, a butcher whose 12-year-old granddaughter plays for the Crossfire soccer team in San Jose.

Who won?: Biden

Before the debate: Obama-Biden (but disappointed by Obama's debate performance).

After the debate: Obama-Biden

Takeaway: "I thought Biden did a great job. I like how he wanted to level the playing field for the rich and the middle class, how he wants to tax the wealthy and give the middle class a break. He knew his game. When he said 'malarkey,' I thought that was very professional compared to dropping the f-bomb, because he's known for doing that."

Jacqueline Bornino, 19, another student in SCU's debate class

Who won?: Ryan

Before the debate: Romney-Ryan

After the debate: Romney-Ryan

"I was really impressed with Ryan. And I was shocked by how Biden was grinning and laughing. He was so condescending and it made him look like an elitist who's out of touch with America. And I was also really impressed with Ryan's grasp of the figures. This was a much better debate than the presidential one."

ODESSA, Texas (AP) — A West Texas man has been charged with impersonating an officer by using sirens and flashing lights to skip to the head of the drive-thru line at a fast-food restaurant. Full Story

Sufjan Stevens, "Carrie & Lowell" (Asthmatic Kitty) Plucked strings and pulsing keyboards dominate the distinctive arrangements on Sufjan Stevens' latest album, and in the absence of a rhythm section, they serve to keep time. Full Story